📖 “But earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.” — Acts 12:5
Prayer is one of the most talked-about and least practiced disciplines in the church. We preach about it, teach it, post quotes about it, and say we believe in its power — yet when life feels manageable, it’s often pushed to the back burner. Until the crisis hits. Then we start praying.
But what if we flipped that script? What if, instead of waiting for desperation, we became the kind of people — and the kind of church — that prays earnestly in advance?
In Acts 12, Peter is in prison, and the church doesn’t organize a protest or send out petitions. They gather and pray — not passively, not casually, but earnestly. And their prayer moved heaven. God sent an angel. Peter was miraculously delivered. But that kind of divine intervention didn’t begin in the prison — it began in the prayer room.
This past Sunday, Pastor Barry shared from Acts 11 and reminded us that the move of God doesn’t just rest on good intentions or emotional services — it rests on prayer, discipleship, and courage to reach beyond our comfort zones. When the believers in Antioch heard the Word, they didn’t just “believe” — they turned, followed, and grew. They gave. They prayed. They discipled. And the church exploded in influence.
But there’s something even more powerful here: these early believers didn’t stay stuck in their comfort zones. They began to share Jesus not only with people like them — fellow Jews — but with the Greek-speaking Gentiles. That move of obedience triggered a spiritual breakthrough that shaped the future of the global church.
And it all happened in the middle of chaos.
đź“Ś Persecution scattered them.
📌 Grief over Stephen’s death shook them.
đź“Ś Cultural and religious divides surrounded them.
📌 Time and capacity were limited — just like today.
But they didn’t let that stop them.
They made time to pray.
They made time to disciple.
They made space for people who were different.
They made room for the Holy Spirit to orchestrate something new.
In today’s world, many believers feel overextended. Work, family, school, sports, life — it pulls at all directions. But Pastor Barry challenged us with something simple and honest: if we want to be a church that thrives in the next 33 years, we must become a church that prays, disciples, and reaches — even when it costs us time or convenience.
🧠From Converts to Disciples
It’s not enough to make converts — we are called to make disciples. That means walking with people through the messy middle. It means having donuts and conversations. It means making time for questions, coffee, study, laughter, and growth. Barnabas brought Saul to Antioch not to give a motivational speech, but to sit and teach for an entire year.
đź•° It takes time to grow.
🪴 It takes time to go deeper.
🤝 It takes time to build relationships that truly transform lives.
The church doesn’t grow strong through one-time moments. It grows strong through long-term commitment.
🌎 From Familiar to Faithful
In Acts 11:19–21, some believers only preached to other Jews — people who looked and lived like them. That was understandable. Safe. Easy. But others, like those from Cyprus and Cyrene, chose to cross cultural lines and share Jesus with outsiders. That obedience sparked revival.
We’re being challenged to do the same.
Whether it’s reaching out to an international student, supporting a new mom, giving to missions, mentoring someone younger, or simply showing up to a small group — faithfulness means being willing to do things differently. It means living in verse 20, not staying stuck in verse 19.
🙏 So… What Now?
Let’s be that “unusual church” — the one that doesn’t wait for storms to start praying.
Let’s ask God now:
Where do You want to send us?
Who are You asking me to disciple?
What does the next season of SHC look like?
You don’t have to use fancy language. Your prayer might be as simple as:
“God, I want to be part of the next 33 years. Show me how.”
God doesn’t respond to polish — He responds to earnestness.
So let’s break the mold.
Let’s crack the time barrier.
Let’s get back to the basics of prayer, discipleship, and Spirit-led mission.
And let’s do it now — not later. Not just in crisis. Let’s be the church that prays before the storm.